World No. 1 and defending champion Michael van Gerwen was in scintillating form as he joined Gary Anderson in the third round of the PDC World Championship.

However, the major talking point of Saturday's action surrounded Paul Lim as he came within one dart of a perfect nine-dart leg, exiting the competition to last year's beaten finalist Anderson.

Lim, 63, was the first person to record a nine-darter at the World Championships in 1990 and it seemed history would repeat itself to the delight of the rapt crowd at Alexandra Palace, only for his final throw to fall narrowly outside double 12.

To add insult to injury, Anderson stole the leg, his sixth on the spin, as he recorded a routine 4-1 win, but much of the focus afterwards was on what could have been for Lim.

Anderson told www.pdc.tv: "If Paul had got the nine-darter it would have been the best Christmas present ever. I thought it was in, when he hit the trebles I thought, 'he's going to hit this'."

It was near perfection from Van Gerwen, who averaged 108.65 as he won all 12 legs in a 4-0 rout of James Wilson. There was no let-up from the Dutchman as he sent a warning to his rivals in a ruthless display.

He said: "I had some fantastic finishing and some high scoring. James played really well at certain points as well but you've got to keep performing and you're not allowed to make any mistakes and I'm glad I didn't.

"At one point I saw my average was 111 and I thought, 'come on keep it above 110', but the game at 3-0 was already won. What more can I ask of myself?

"I'm going to have a happy Christmas now and prepare myself for the last 16 -- I feel good."

Next up for the two-time champion is Gerwyn Price, who had earlier seen off Ian White 4-1, while Mensur Suljovic battled back from 2-1 down to overcome Robert Thornton 4-2.